BY SPACEFLIGHT NOW

Follow the preparations and launch of the Atlantic Bird 2 communications satellite aboard an Arianespace Ariane 4 rocket. Reload this page for the very latest on the mission.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2001

A telecommunications bridge that will span the Atlantic Ocean to link five continents from the Americas to the Persian Gulf was successfully launched into space Tuesday. Read our full launch story.

2345 GMT (7:45 p.m. EDT)

Arianespace has declared success for today's launch of Atlantic Bird 2. This marks the 64th straight success for the Ariane 4 rocket dating back to 1995.

We'll have a full wrap-up story a bit later today.

2341 GMT (7:41 p.m. EDT)

Plus+20 minutes, 5 seconds. SPACECRAFT SEPARATION! The Atlantic Bird 2 telecommunications satellite has been released into space from the Ariane 4 rocket's third stage, completing today's launch of Arianespace Flight 144.

2340 GMT (7:40 p.m. EDT)

Plus+19 minutes. Confirmation of third stage shut down, completing the powered phase of flight. Orbit has been achieved. The stage will now provide the necessary pointing for deployment of the Atlantic Bird 2 spacecraft over the next two minutes. Altitude is 335 km, velocity 9.46 km/sec.

2339 GMT (7:39 p.m. EDT)

Plus+18 minutes, 12 seconds. Standing by for cutoff of the third stage. The Libreville tracking station in Africa has acquired the rocket's signal.

2338 GMT (7:38 p.m. EDT)

Plus+17 minutes, 30 seconds. The rocket is now beginning to gain altitude again. The altitude is 294 km, velocity 8.74 km/sec.

2337 GMT (7:37 p.m. EDT)

Plus+16 minutes. Less than three minutes left in the third stage burn.

2335 GMT (7:35 p.m. EDT)

Plus+14 minutes. The Ariane rocket continues to gain speed. Altitude is 292 km, velocity 7.00 km/sec.

2333 GMT (7:33 p.m. EDT)

Plus+12 minutes, 50 seconds. The Ascension Island tracking station in the Atlantic Ocean has acquired the rocket's signal as it heads eastward away from South America. Altitude is 299.2 km, velocity 6.56 km/sec.

2332 GMT (7:32 p.m. EDT)

Plus+11 minutes, 30 seconds. This is now the period in flight where the Ariane rocket levels out in altitude in order to gain velocity. Altitude is 303 km, velocity 6.1 km/sec.

2331 GMT (7:31 p.m. EDT)

Plus+10 minutes, 35 seconds. Arianespace is not reporting any problems in today's climb too orbit. Altitude 292 km, velocity 5.84 km/sec.

2329 GMT (7:29 p.m. EDT)

Plus+8 minutes. Third stage burn still going with no problems reported. Trajectory and vehicle parameters are normal. Altitude 264 km, velocity 5 km/sec.

2328 GMT (7:28 p.m. EDT)

Plus+7 minutes, 5 seconds. The Natal tracking station in Brazil has picked up the rocket's signal as it travels downrange. Vehicle remains on the proper course. Altitude is 235 km, velocity 4.99 km/sec.

2327 GMT (7:27 p.m. EDT)

Plus+6 minutes. Burnout of the second stage has occurred and the spent stage has jettisoned. The cryogenic upper stage has now ignited for its long-duration burn to deliver the Atlantic Bird 2 satellite payload into orbit.

2326 GMT (7:26 p.m. EDT)

Plus+5 minutes, 30 seconds. No problems reported in the second stage burn. Altitude is 160 km, velocity 4.6 km/sec.

2325 GMT (7:25 p.m. EDT)

Plus+4 minutes, 40 seconds. The payload fairing has been jettisoned since it is no longer needed to shield the Atlantic Bird 2 spacecraft. Altitude is 124 km, velocity 3.4 km/sec.

2324 GMT (7:24 p.m. EDT)

Plus+3 minutes, 50 seconds. The four first stage main engines have shut down and stage separation confirmed. A flash was seen by the powerful tracking cameras in the clear evening sky during the staging.

And the second stage has now ignited and good propulsion reported.

2324 GMT (7:24 p.m. EDT)

Plus+3 minutes. First stage main engines continue to fire. Altitude is 53 km, velocity 1.6 km/sec.

2323 GMT (7:23 p.m. EDT)

Plus+2 minutes. Telemetry parameters and trajectory reported normal.

2322 GMT (7:22 p.m. EDT)

Plus+75 seconds. The four solid-propellant strap-on boosters have burned out and separated from the Ariane 4's first stage. The spent casings fall into the Atlantic Ocean. The first stage main engines are still burning to continue the climb to orbit.

2321 GMT (7:21 p.m. EDT)

Plus+30 seconds. Ariane has pitched to the proper eastward trajectory away from the launch site. The rocket is riding the thrust of eight engines -- four liquid-fueled main engines and four strap-on solid rocket motors.

2321 GMT (7:21 p.m. EDT)

LIFTOFF! Liftoff of the Ariane 4 rocket launching Eutelsat's Atlantic Bird 2 to bridge telecommunications across the Atlantic Ocean. And the vehicle has cleared the tower!

2320 GMT (7:20 p.m. EDT)

Minus-30 seconds. The three-stage rocket is set to deliver Atlantic Bird 2 into a geosynchronous transfer orbit of 300 km on the low end and 35,786 km on the high end, with an inclination of 7 degrees. Ariane 4 is going for its 64th consecutive successful launch.

2320 GMT (7:20 p.m. EDT)

Minus-1 minute. Equipment aboard the Ariane 44P rocket is being switched off ground-supplied power and to onboard batteries for launch.

In the final seconds of the countdown, activities will include releasing the inertial platform at minus 9 seconds, and the release command to the retraction system for the two cryogenic arms will be given at Minus-5 seconds.

2319 GMT (7:19 p.m. EDT)

Minus-90 seconds and counting. The local tracking stations at the launch site should have a firm lock on the rocket at this time.

2319 GMT (7:19 p.m. EDT)

Minus-2 minutes and counting. The third stage liquid oxygen tank has been pressurized for the launch.

2318 GMT (7:18 p.m. EDT)

Minus-3 minutes and counting. Flight 144 will be the seventh Arianespace launch in 2001 and the 144th in the entire Ariane program. It will be the 106th Ariane 4 mission and the 15th for the Ariane 44P version with four solid-propellant strap-on rocket boosters.

2317 GMT (7:17 p.m. EDT)

Minus-4 minutes and counting. The launch team is monitoring the final topping off of liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen supplies aboard the rocket's third stage.

In the next half-minute, the launch time will be loaded aboard the Ariane rocket's guidance system. Also, the Atlantic Bird 2 spacecraft will be confirmed on internal power and declared ready for launch.

2316 GMT (7:16 p.m. EDT)

Minus-5 minutes and counting. A network of tracking stations are standing ready to relay data from the Ariane 4 rocket to engineers in Kourou. The early portion of flight will be monitored through the Kourou and Cayenne stations in French Guiana. About 6 minutes, 50 seconds into flight the Natal station in Brazil will pick up the rocket's signal as the third stage burn gets underway. At T+plus 12 minutes, 50 seconds the site on Ascension Island in the Atlantic Ocean will begin coverage. Libreville in Gabon will provide services beginning at T+plus 18 minutes for spacecraft separation and the conclusion of Arianespace Flight 144.

2315 GMT (7:15 p.m. EDT)

Minus-6 minutes and counting. The synchronized launch sequence has started. Computers are now in control of this final segment of the launch countdown. Liftoff is set for 2321 GMT (7:21 p.m. EDT).

During the next six minutes, the Ariane 44P rocket, satellite payload and ground systems will be configured for launch. There are two master computers running the countdown. One is responsible for fluids and propellants and the other for final preparation of the electrical systems such as initiating the flight program, activation of the engine steering systems and power transfer from ground supplies to onboard batteries. The computers will control until minus 5 seconds when a majority logic sequencer takes over for first stage engine start at zero seconds. Engine performance checks are done in parallel by the two computers starting at plus 2.8 seconds. The solid rocket motors will be ignited at plus 4.2 seconds. Finally, the command will be issued to open the launch table clamps for liftoff between ignition +plus 4.4 and 4.6 seconds.

2314 GMT (7:14 p.m. EDT)

Minus-6 minutes and holding. All systems are back to "go" status again. Everything has been reset. Liftoff is now scheduled for 2321 GMT.

2311 GMT (7:11 p.m. EDT)

Minus-6 minutes and holding. The countdown won't be restarting momentarily after all. There is now a "no go" condition with the launch pad.

2310 GMT (7:10 p.m. EDT)

Minus-6 minutes and holding. The Range is "go" for launch! The countdown will resume in a couple of minutes.

2308 GMT (7:08 p.m. EDT)

Minus-6 minutes and holding. With the rocket reset finished, the Range reset is underway. Then the launch team will perform a communications test between the two.

2257 GMT (6:57 p.m. EDT)

Minus-6 minutes and holding. The electronics reset of the Ariane 4 rocket has been completed, Arianespace says. However, Range Safety remains "no go" for launch while troubleshooting continues to determine where the mystery signals originated.

The countdown must resume by 2323 GMT (7:23 p.m. EDT) in order to launch by the very end of today's window at 2329 GMT (7:29 p.m. EDT).

2237 GMT (6:37 p.m. EDT)

Minus-6 minutes and holding. Arianespace says the Ariane 4 rocket has received some signals from Range Safety. However, the launch team is unable to determine where the signals came from. Technicians are now resetting the rocket's systems to clear the problem.

There is no estimation on how long this work will take. Today's launch window extends 57 minutes to 2329 GMT (7:29 p.m. EDT).

2228 GMT (6:28 p.m. EDT)

Minus-6 minutes and holding. Arianespace reports the hold was ordered because of a problem transmitting signals between the control center and Ariane 4 rocket. Troubleshooting is underway to determine what is causing the problem and how to fix it.

2226 GMT (6:26 p.m. EDT)

Minus-6 minutes and holding. The countdown clock has stopped due to an unspecified problem with the Range. The count is held at this point because the computer-run synchronized sequence is started after passing Minus-6 minutes and can't be held.

The rocket, spacecraft and weather are all reported ready for launch.

There is no word from Arianespace on how long this hold might last. Today's launch window extends 57 minutes to 2329 GMT (7:29 p.m. EDT).

2222 GMT (6:22 p.m. EDT)

Minus-10 minutes. The Range at the Guiana Space Center is reporting a "no go" condition for launch. We are awaiting word on what is the problem.

2223 GMT (6:23 p.m. EDT)

Minus-10 minutes, 30 seconds and counting. Range is red!

2217 GMT (6:17 p.m. EDT)

Minus-15 minutes. The Ariane 44P rocket stands 56.3 meters tall and weighs 358 metric tons at liftoff. The Atlantic Bird 2 spacecraft accounts for 3,150 kg (6,930 pounds) of that weight.

2212 GMT (6:12 p.m. EDT)

Minus-20 minutes and counting down to today's launch of the Ariane 44P rocket with the Atlantic Bird 2 communications satellite for Eutelsat.

The three-stage rocket has been fully fueled and prepared for liftoff at 2232 GMT from the ELA-2 pad at the Guiana Space Center in South America.

Launch team members are watching systems on the Ariane 4 rocket, the spacecraft and ground support equipment. There are no problems being reported. The status panel in the Jupiter control center green across the board, indicating all systems are "go" at this time.

2140 GMT (5:40 p.m. EDT)

Good day and welcome to our live coverage of the launch of Arianespace Flight 144. The Ariane 44P rocket is scheduled to lift off with the Atlantic Bird 2 communications satellite at 2232 GMT (6:32 p.m. EDT) from Kourou, French Guiana in South America.

We'll start getting status updates from the launch site in about 30 minutes.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2001

Countdown clocks are ticking down the final hours before the next launch of the workhorse European Ariane 4 rocket with the Atlantic Bird 2 international communications satellite, which is destined to bridge the Americas with Europe and Africa via vital communications links.

The solar storm that has delayed the Lockheed Martin Athena rocket launch from Alaska is not a concern for the Ariane 4's electronics, Arianespace says.

Flight 144 is set to roar into the skies above the Guiana Space Center in South America at 2232 GMT (6:32 p.m. EDT). A 57-minute window of opportunity is available for the rocket to get off the ground Tuesday evening.

This mission will utilize the Ariane 44P rocket with four solid-fueled strap-on boosters. Of the 11 Ariane 4 rockets remaining to be launched -- including Flight 144 -- this represents the final Ariane 44P rocket planned to be launched. It also marks the 106th flight of an Ariane 4 and the 15th launch of the Ariane 44P.

Tucked inside the launcher's payload fairing is the Atlantic Bird 2 satellite for European satellite operator Eutelsat. Weighing 6,930 pounds at launch, the Alcatel-built spacecraft is based on the Spacebus 3000 B2 design. Once fully deployed, its two solar panels will stretch almost 90 feet tip-to-tip and will produce around 6.5 kilowatts of electricity at the end of its projected 15-year lifetime.

Atlantic Bird 2 will be parked in geostationary orbit at 8 degrees West above the Atlantic Ocean. From there, its 26 Ku-band transponders will reach the Americas, Europe, northern Africa, and the Middle East. Once operational, it will provide television and radio broadcasting services, Internet access, communications relating to interactive networks, and MPEG 4 streaming video services. The satellite will enable communications to and from the Americas to be directly transmitted to and from Europe and other regions.

Flight 144 will mark the 15th Eutelsat payload to fly aboard an Ariane rocket in Arianespace history.

On Monday, the Ariane 44P's first and second stages were filled with their propellant combination of unsymmetrical dimethyl hydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide.

Looking ahead to Tuesday's key countdown events, the final countdown is scheduled to begin at 1002 GMT (6:02 a.m. EDT). The large protective service gantry will begin rolling away from the launch pad and into its launch position at 1657 GMT (12:57 p.m. EDT). At 1857 GMT (2:57 p.m. EDT), the rocket's third stage will be fueled with its load of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen propellants. The launcher's telemetry, radar transponder, and telecommand systems will be activated at 2127 GMT (5:27 p.m. EDT). If all reporting elements report a "go" status, the countdown will enter the synchronized launch sequence six minutes before liftoff at 2226 (6:26 p.m. EDT). Following are a series of fast-paced events culminating in the ignition of the first stage engines at T-0.

The four boosters will ignite four seconds after first stage engine start, followed immediately by liftoff. After launch, the Ariane 44P will follow a normal ascent profile with a one-minute burn of the four solid-fueled boosters and a 3 minute, 30 second burn of the first stage. The second stage will then take over and burn for just over two minutes, during which time the payload fairing will be jettisoned. The third stage will run for around 13 minutes before shutting down in preparation for spacecraft separation, which will occur almost 20 minutes into flight.

Watch this page on Tuesday evening for live play-by-play coverage of the countdown and launch of Flight 144.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2001

A European Ariane 4 rocket is poised for launch Tuesday from South America carrying Eutelsat's Atlantic Bird 2 spacecraft that will transmit telecommunications broadcasts between both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.

The Ariane 44P rocket, with four solid-fueled strap-on boosters, is set to dart from its jungle launch pad at Kourou, French Guiana's ELA-2 launch complex at 2232 GMT (6:32 p.m. EDT) Tuesday. The launch window extends for 57 minutes.

Enclosed inside the rocket's payload fairing is the Atlantic Bird 2 communications spacecraft for European-based international satellite operator Eutelsat. Built by Alcatel Space of France, the 6,930-pound craft will be positioned above the Atlantic Ocean in geostationary orbit. From that perch 22,300 above the Earth, it will provide services to the Americas, Europe, northern Africa, and the Middle East.

Processing for Flight 144 began on August 22 with the erection of the Ariane's first stage onto the mobile launch table inside the launcher integration building. The rocket's second stage was placed on top of the first stage two days later on August 24.

The Atlantic Bird 2 payload arrived in Kourou for final pre-launch preparations on August 27.

Meanwhile, the launcher's third stage was lifted and put atop the second stage on August 30.

On September 10, the nearly-complete Ariane 44P was rolled along one kilometer of rail tracks from the launcher integration building to the ELA-2 launch pad. Also, fueling operations for Atlantic Bird 2 got underway.

The four solid-fueled boosters for the Ariane 44P were strapped onto the vehicle in pairs on September 12 and 13.

Encapsulation of Atlantic Bird 2 into the Ariane 4's protective payload fairing occurred on September 17, followed the next day by the movement of the payload to the launch pad.

The payload was then mated onto the launcher on September 19, completing the assembly of the rocket.

In a last chance to hone their skills and plans, launch officials conducted a final launch rehearsal on Thursday, September 20.

The most recent event -- the launch readiness review -- took place on Friday and ended with an affirmative decision on whether to proceed with final plans for launch. Shortly after hearing word of the decision, workers pressed ahead with connections between the launcher and pyrotechnic devices in a process known as arming.

On Monday, plans call for the fueling of the first and second stages of the rocket with their load of unsymmetrical dimethyl hydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide propellant. The third stage will be fueled with liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen during Tuesday's final countdown.

Stay with Spaceflight Now for live play-by-play updates during Tuesday evening's countdown and launch.